While bright, white home interiors will always be on-trend, there has recently been a subtle shift toward bolder and darker hues. Modern homeowners aren’t afraid to play with tone and texture, from moody paint colors to whimsical accent walls.
If you’re looking for a simple yet powerful way to embrace this style, we recommend starting with your bathroom tile. From an oversized primary bath to a small guest suite, you can instantly transform a space by going a little darker with your selection. If you’ve always stuck close to white tiles, have you thought about going in the opposite direction?
Sleek and sophisticated with just the right amount of flair, black shower tile is anything but boring. With the right design approach, you can create a one-of-a-kind oasis you love to escape to at the end of the day.
The Benefits of Black Shower Tile
When it’s time to design or remodel your shower, you’ll quickly find that there are a lot of bathroom tile options on the market. These run the gamut from stark white to ebony, and every shade and pattern in between.
With so many choices to browse, you might wonder why a darker tone is the way to go. Here are a few reasons we suggest giving it a try.
Easy Elegance
These tiles will elevate any space, whether you’re using them as an accent, border, or full shower surround. They’re also sophisticated and contemporary, giving older homes a quick facelift without a major investment.
If you’re looking for a timeless update that will still look refined years from now, this is one design decision you can make with confidence.
Clean Appearance
While while tile might look beautiful in the shower, it doesn’t take long for the grout to darken and mildew spots to form. With darker tile, you have a little more wiggle room, especially if you choose a complementary grout color.
While it’s still important to keep your space clean, you won’t notice it as visibly if you go a few days between deep cleanings. This allows you to enjoy your shower, not stress about it!
Design Options
There are many different variations of black tiles to consider. This includes various finishes, such as matte, polished, and textured. With so many to choose from, you can easily create a custom look that matches the aesthetic of your home.
Which Material Should You Choose?
Now that you’ve decided to go dark with your shower tile, the next step is to choose a material you love. Let’s take a look at a few of the most common varieties available.
Ceramic Subway Tiles
Subway tiles are a popular pick for the shower, and for good reason. They’re clean-looking and classic, giving the space a harmonious, seamless look that adds instant tranquility.
Use dark grout for a more streamlined appearance, or contrast with white grout to help the tiles stand out!
Glass Tiles
Glass tiles are a little more fluid in appearance, giving your shower an almost mirror-esque sheen that’s full of drama and glamour. These polished tiles would look great in a contemporary bathroom and can be paired with other colors for a unique design.
Porcelain Tiles
Porcelain tiles are fired at a higher temperature than ceramic ones, which makes them a little more durable. They would be ideal for a high-traffic shower, like your primary one.
As a benefit, porcelain tiles are also easier to clean than other models and also resist water and scratches.
Stone Tiles
If you love the look of natural stone, you can consider installing marble, granite, or even slate in your shower. However, keep in mind that these materials aren’t as water-resistant and might require a little more maintenance to keep your shower looking fresh.
Show-Stopping Bathroom Tile Designs
When it’s time to start planning your bathroom renovation, it helps to have an idea of the pattern you’d like to create in your shower! As you’re making your vision board and pinning your favorite photos, here are a few of our favorite ideas to inspire your final look.
1. Herringbone Tiles
Herringbone is one of the most popular bathroom tile patterns, giving a special twist to the standard look of subway tile. In most applications, the tiles look as though they’re woven together, usually in a V-shaped formation.
If you prefer a solid look, you can use all black tiles. Or, consider alternating between black and white tiles for a cool two-toned look!
2. Square Tiles
Instead of rectangular, subway-style tiles, why not choose square-shaped ones instead? This is a more modern style that also looks great on a bathroom wall or as a backsplash behind your sink.
3. Subway Tiles
If your shower is on the smaller side, you can help it look a little taller by making one simple switch. Instead of installing your skinny subway tiles in the conventional horizontal design, turn them on their axis and opt for a vertical installation instead! This gives instant height to the space, along with a modern feel.
4. Oversized Tiles
Another way to help your shower feel bigger is to swap small or standard-sized tiles for oversized ones. Not only does this enlarge the space, but it also means you have fewer grout lines to clean!
5. Accent Wall
If you love the look of black tile, but don’t want to commit to covering your entire shower with it, you can always highlight one side as an accent wall. Choose light or neutral colors for the remaining sides, but allow this one to go a little darker.
6. Marble Tiles
Accented with swirls of white or gray, black marble looks stunning in a bathroom. While you’ll need to take special care to keep it from showing water marks or grime, the extra effort is worth it for the dramatic payoff.
Here’s a photo gallery of eye-catching marble showers to inspire you!
7. Penny Tiles
As their name implies, penny tiles have a small, round appearance that blends modern style with retro vibes. These tiles can be a little overwhelming on all four walls, but they look right at home on the floor of your shower!
In fact, you might find that you prefer the look so much you want to extend it to the rest of your bathroom floor. This way, the threshold of the shower looks more uniform with the rest of the room.
8. Black, Gray, and White Tiles
Gray and white naturally complement shades of black, and you can achieve a three-toned look by incorporating these colors into your shower tile design.
This technique flows best when the tiles are on the smaller side, so we recommend sticking with a subway-style shape in ceramic, glass, or porcelain materials.
9. Shower Niche
One of the best parts about modern showers is that most are designed with some type of built-in niche for your soaps and shampoo bottles. No more hanging a heavy, awkward metal cubby around the showerhead to stash all of your essentials!
If you’re building a niche or two into your shower, consider using black tiles, especially if they flow with the rest of your color scheme. This is a great way to add a pop of glam and hide any grime that builds up around the bottles.
10. Accent Row
If you’ve decided to go with lighter-colored tiles inside your shower, you can still incorporate a touch of black. To do so, ask your contractor to install a mid-level accent row that goes all the way around the space.
This can match the pattern on the walls (e.g. herringbone) or it can be completely different. Likewise, you might choose to keep the same layout or go against the grain for a contrasting look. For example, vertically installed border tiles will pop against horizontal ones!
11. Granite Slab
For the ultimate high-end, dramatic look, consider installing an oversized piece of granite in your shower! While we’ve mentioned the extra upkeep that natural materials require, you can’t go wrong with a gorgeous piece of granite in this space.
For best results, choose a slab that you don’t have to cut too much to fit into the shower. That way, the pattern will flow beautifully and there won’t be as many transition spots. You can also install the same material on your bathroom countertops.
Hire Experts for Your Bathroom Renovation
Compare Quotes from Top-rated Bathroom Remodel contractors in your area.
Deciding to undergo a bathroom renovation is an exciting step! However, it’s not one that you have to take alone.
As you brainstorm black shower tile ideas, we recommend reaching out to a local contractor who can help you bring your vision to life. This is especially the case if you’re planning a heavy-duty installation or a more elaborate, time-consuming design.
At Alpha Living, we’re here to connect you to experts in your area who can help you tackle any home project. When you’re ready to get started, visit our bathroom remodeling page and enter your zip code.
With just a few clicks, you can find certified professionals, get a quote, and turn your dream shower into a reality!
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